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PUBLISHED BY 
CALIFORNIA LIBERTY LEAGUE 



THE PROBLEM 



A PLAY IN THREE ACTS 



Uy Arthur Arnttunn 



LOS ANGELES : 

C. W. Leach, Printer, 230*/ 2 South Spring Street 

1914 






Copyrighted, 1914, by Arthur Aronsotl 



All rights reserved by the Author 



oct -5 m 

©CI.D ;3840S 



PREFACE 



The modern drama is fast becoming a great factor in the educa- 
1 fcion and upliftment of the human race. The stage or the theatre is 
becoming a school 'for the study of social problems, and a sort 
of pulpit where sermons are preached dealing with society's ills. 

From now on, the play that will meet with public approval will 
deal with conditions as they really exist; they will have to portray 
life in its true form, point out its ills, then discuss causes and reme- 
dies. 

In developing my theme for this play I had two things in mind. 
There were two distinct messages 1 wished to deliver and impress 
upon the Teader's mind. 

One is : that man is a creature of habit. I mean inherent habits, 
that have been handed down from generation to generation and are 
instilled in the human organism, and should this habit prove to be a 
-detriment to the huamri race the only way it can be abolished is by 
gradual education* 

The other is to call attention to a sphere of activity that is of far 
greater importance to the entire human Tace than any habit, liquor or 
otherwise. OUR INDUSTRIAL PROBLEMS are yet to be solved. 

I shall not quairrel with our prohibition friends, but enter into a 
path of friendly discussion with them that may lead us onward. 
Theories and doctrines will not help us. We need facts and deeds. 
And the facts prove that by passing a law that will prohibit people 
from indulging in an inherent habit we will only be juggling with theo- 
ries that never can become facts, and dealing with effects and not 
causes. 

I am trying to show that shonld these rerornrers, preacheit, and 
moral uplifters spend their time and energy jn solving industrial 
problems— -should they try to protect numan lives in the shopsi 
mines, mills and factories, they will perform their duty to Christian- 
ity a good deal more effectively than by fighting the liquor traffic. 

ARTHUR ARONSON. 



THE PROBLEM 



ACT I. 



Evening. A large study in a residence located in the 
fashionable district of San Francisco. The room is richly 
furnished. Mr. Walter Brand, a lawyer, is sitting in a re- 
volving chair at the right hand side of a large table. He is 
holding a letter in his hand which has evidently caused him 
uneasiness, for he was sitting there arguing with himself. 
You might say he was juggling with his conscience for there 
was a tempting offer in the letter from a lumber company 
whom he had heretofore prosecuted in the interest of a poor 
Italian laborer. 

He finally came to a decision which can be noticed by the 
sudden determined expression on his face. 



(Mr. Brand) — 'Why not, why not? Am I not in this 
game for the, money? Have I not struggled all these years for 
fortune, is not capital above brains, and is not brains something 
money buys? Why should I not sell myself to the highest 
bidder?" 

(Takes out a cigar and lights it as he is evidently in deep 
thought and the door opens, Catharine Brand enters with a 
newspaper in her hand. She appears very happy and is sing- 
ing a song.) 

(Catharine) — "Father look at this paper, this labor case 
of yours seems to be quite sensational. The newspapers write 
so much about it. See your picture on the front page. I am 
sure you are going to win this case for this poor man. How 
happy his family will be." 

(Brand, very nervous) — "Yes, it is sensational, but I don't 
think I am going to win it." 

(Catharine) — "Why father! What's the matter? You 
always seemed to talk so favorably about it. You were so 
enthusiastic." 

(Brand) — "Well you see the late evidence seems to be 
entirely against us." 



(Catharine) — "But Martin says you have a clear case 
against the Foster lumber mill and there is no reason why you 
shouldn't win." 

(Brand) — 'Oh yes, Martin, a dreamer, you can't go by 
what he says. That man is not living with us today, no he is 
not in this race for fortune. He is living in the realm of his 
dreams of future generations and he thinks I can conduct this 
case for the glory there is in it. 

(Catharine) — "But he has loaned Tony Derano almost 
everything he had." 

(Brand) — 'Catharine! I am afraid he is paying too much 
attention to you. He has been coming around here butting into 
my affairs for the last six months. Why doesn't he stay at 
home and paint his pictures and mind his own business?" 

(Catharine) — "Father, why talk that way about Martin, 
you know he is only interested in this poor Italian and his 
family; he wants to see him get a square deal in his trial 
against a millionaire." 

(Brand) — "That is well enough, but I am not in the law 
business for charity. It takes money to conduct a case like 
this. He hasn't any and I am not like Martin wasting my 
life on dreams." 

(Catharine) — "Father!" 

(Brand, intercepting her) — "Tu tu, that's enough. You 
seem to worry about this yourself. I can attend to all of this 
without any assistance from you or Martin." 

(Bell rings, servant enters.) 

(Servant) — "Mrs. Bevarde and a gentleman wish to see 
you." 

(Brand) — "Show them in." 

(Enter Mrs. Bevarde and Father Don. Mrs. Bevarde holds 
in her hand a lorgnette and is dressed in the height of fashion. 
Father Don wears his ecclesiastic garments and has a good 
natured expression on his face.) 

"Good evening." 

(Brand) — "What guests? Quite a surprise, Father Don." 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "Walter, Father wishes to talk to 
you about some charitable work." 



(Father Don) — "Yes, Mr. Brand, I knew you were always 
good to the poor so I came to tell you about a new scheme 
to help God's unfortunates. We found that there are so many 
Christian souls who are without any means of support that after 
a thorough investigation we came to the conclusion that most 
of the causes of poverty can be traced to the use of the poison- 
ous liquors. So we have decided that this state at least must do 
away with the sale of liquors. We have already made plans 
for a sweeping campaign which will be the means of making this 
state dry at the next election." 

(Mr. Brand nods and Mrs. Bevarde interrupts the dis- 
course.) 

(Mrs. Bevarde to Catharine) — "What's the matter Cath- 
arine, why look so down-hearted?" 

(Catharine)— "Oh nothing, Aunty." 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "I have some good news for you." 

(Catharine) — "What is it Aunty." 

(Mrs. Bevarde)- — "I met Mr. Harte and he says he is 
going to pay you a visit tonight." 
(Catharine looking worried.) 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "What's the matter Catharine? Don't 
you like his company. You ought to see the new seven-passen- 
ger car he bought. They say he is building a new one hundred 
thousand dollar plant for his factory." 

(Catharine) — "Oh, Aunty please don't tell me of his 
riches." 

(Brand to Mrs. Bevarde) — "Don't you know that Cath- 
arine is bamboozled by that dreamer fellow, and Myrtle, I 
tell you that I will have no more of him around here." 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "Well, Martin is a good artist and a 
fine fellow to talk to, but he is not worth anything, besides he 
mingles among that common laboring class of people. Would 
you believe that he was invited to many fashionable affairs of 
our upper set and he actually refused to attend. In one place 
where he attended because Catharine was there he treated the 
swellest of ladies with utter coolness, and looked at some of 
our prettiest gowns with disgust." 

(Father Don) — "Who is Martin, I would like to meet 



8 

him." (Evidently seeing his opportunity to speak to Mr. 
Brand) — "As I was saying before Mr. Brand, I am trying to 
do God's work by helping these unfortunates. Now I am sure 
that you will help us. We have put you down for five hun- 
dred dollars." 

(Brand, surprised) — "How much, five hundred dollars?" 
(Things for a moment) — "Come in the other room and explain 
the proposition all over again. Myrtle, will you come with us?" 
(The three exit.) 

(Catharine, alone) — "There must be something wrong with 
father. I have never seen him act that way before. He is 
entirely clanged. He said he was going to make himself a 
name out of this case whether there was any money in it or 
not." (Pic^s up newspaper from table and starts reading. 
Bell rings.) 

(Enter servant) — "Mr. Martin Lightstone wishes to see 
you" 

(Catharine) — "Show him in." 

(Enter Martin) — "Good evening, Catharine." 

(Catharine) — 'Hello Martin; I am awfully glad you 
came. I was just talking to father about you and the Derano 
case. The newspapers are giving it quite a large space. Look- 
ing at the newspaper.) Look, what do you think of that." 

(Martin) — "What is it." 

(Catharine reads) — " 'The police raided a gambling house 
last night; among those found there were some of the most 
prominent citizens of San Francisco including a police judge'." 

(Martin) — "Oh, that is nothing. Judges are doing worse 
things than that in San Francisco; it's a wonder the Chief of 
Police wasn't caught gambling." 

(Catharine laughs) — "Say Martin, I want to tell you 
something serious." 

(Martin)— "What is it?" 

(Catharine) — "Father seems to have lost all his confidence 
in that Derano case." 

(Martin) — "He has? Oh well, I guess your father is dis- 
couraged because money isn't forthcoming fast enough. But 
things will come out all right. He has everything in his favor; 



all the evidence so far proves not only is the Foster Lumber 
Mills responsible for this man losing his arm, but that they are 
also violating all the labor laws.*' 

(Catharine) — "Father says you are wasting your life on 
foolishness and dreams." 

(Martin) — "Well, maybe I am, but these dreams are com- 
ing truer every day." 

Catharine) — "They say you are advocating municipal 
ownership/' 

(Martin, laughing) — "Who whispered that into your ear?" 

(Catharine) — "Father told me, and he says its socialistic. 
Is it Martin?" 

(Martin) — "I will tell you what it is; we all use the 
public streets." 

(Catharine) — "Yes." 

(Martin) — "Therefore we, the people, own them collect- 
ively. Trat is what we call municipal ownership. Now we 
all use the railroad and street cars," 

(Catharine) — "Yes." 

(Martin) — "Collectively," 

(Catharine) — "Yes." 

(Martin) — "Well, why not own them collectively. That 
would be the municipal ownership of these particular indus- 
tries," 

(Catharine) — "Oh, I see." 

(Martin) — "I forgot we are just beginning to own the 
street cars in San Francisco," 

(Both laugh) 

(Enter Mrs, Bevarde and Father Don.) 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "Here is Mr. Lightstone, Mr, Light- 
stone, I want ycu to meet Father Don." 

(Father Don) — "I have heard so much about you and 
your work amongst the poor that I wanted to meet you. You 
see, I too, am interested in charitable work." 

(Martin) — "Yes, I mingle amongst the poor all the time. 
Eut not for charitable purposes. You see, Father Don, to 
my mind the workers don't need any charity. Just give them 
a square deal and that will be enough." 



10 

(Father Don) — "I understand that you are publicly oppos- 
ing the prohibition amendment, Mr. Lightstone, is that true/* 

(Martin)— "Yes." 

(Father Don) — "How can you conscientiously claim to 
be pleading the cause of the poor when you know that liquor 
has been their curse/' 

(Martin) — "Look here, Father Don, I don't want you to 
think that I have any hard feelings against you; on the con- 
trary I believe that you are sincere and that you are a big 
hearted man trying to help the poor, but without first finding 
the cause that makes them poor, and then eliminating that 
cause/' 

(Father Don) — "But you do not deny that should this 
law be enacted the workers, who are most subject to drink, will 
be denied the incentive to the use of liquor by having the 
saloons closed/' 

(Martin) — "I do deny that. The saloon is not the in- 
centive for drink. People do not drink because the saloon is 
here. But the saloon is here because people drink. And I 
say that if you drive the legal saloon away from Main Street 
you will spread illegal ones all over the city." 

(Father Don) — "Well, don't you know Mr. Lightstone 
that the churches and all the good Christian people are in favor 
of abolishing this liquor traffic." 

(Martin) — "This is no doubt true, but there must be 
another reason for this deplorable condition. Possibly if the 
church looked at the question with both eyes open they would 
find that men are not poor because they drink, but that they 
drink because they are poor. For as long as there is poverty, 
and men are forced to work ten, twelve and fourteen hours a 
day at hard labor, they will drink. It matters not whether you 
have a mental or physical strain, human beings will require a 
stimulant." 

(Father Don) — "You know that liquor enslaves the mind 
and decreases the person's capacity to think." 

(Martin) — "Here is where you are wrong, for if you have 
studied literature and American history you will find some of 
our greatest men, statesmen, sociologists, poets; in fact, almost 



11 

all the great literary minds have been subject to a daily stimu- 
lant of liquor. Some of them even drank to excess." 

(Father Don) — "Mr* Lightstone, I am afraid you are not 
a good Christian/' 

(Martin) — "And I am trying to show you that I am the 
better Christian. The matter of fact is that men drank ever 
since this world began; all through the ages people have used 
liquor and here you are trying to reverse this inherent habit of 
the human race by some nice day passing a law against it. 
I tell you you can't do it. You will only have more laws 
broken* Everywhere liquor is sold as free as bread you 
have less drunkenness. Sweden, Germany, France and other 
countries where we have beer gardens in public parks, there the 
working people do not drink to excess and there we find the 
most advanced nation in art, literature and science, so if your 
reformers, preachers and calamity howlers will spend more of 
their time dealing with causes that make poverty, I say, they 
will fulfill their mission to Christianity a good deal more 
effectively than by fighting booze." 

(Enter Brand.) 

(Martin)^ — "How do you do, Mr, Brand." 

(Brand) — "How do you do." 

(Martin) — -"Are you going out," 

(Brand, roughly) — "Yes, I am going out, I have an ap- 
pointment at a club, I must go right now," (Going towards 
the door.) 

(Martin)— "Just a minute, Mr. Brand, I have never seen 
you in such a hurry before," 

(Brand)— "What is it?" 

(Martin) — "I want to talk to you about that Derano case 
for a few minutes." 

(Brand) — "There you are again. Do I have to tell you 
all my affairs." 

(Martin) — "No, not all of them, but in this particular 
case I happen to be interested. You know I loaned this man 
almost all I had to fight the case and certainly I am entitled 
to know something about it." 

(Brand) — "I haven't the time to talk about it now." 



12 

(Martin, taking out his watch) — "Here, we will only take 
ten minutes. Sit down there and just answer me a few ques- 
tions/* 

(Brand) — "Well if you must know, I want to inform you 
that I am going to drop the case all together." 

(Martin, startled)— "What!' 1 

(Brand) — "Yes, I have discovered that I have no case 
against the company." 

(Martin, shaking with fury.) 

(Brand) — "I don't see why you are so startled about it, 
I will see that you don't lose anything by it." 

(Martin, startled) — "Why, Mr. Brand have you no heart 
at all, can't ycu hear the cries of that man's children. Drop 
it, surely you don't mean that after you have let this man 
suffer for six months you'll throw him down like a dog, (Ex- 
citedly.) No, no, no, you don't mean it. You won't drop 
this case. You don't realize what it means. Evidence? I 
should say you have a clear case. It has been conclusively 
proved that the company was too greedy to buy safety appli- 
ances for the protection of their employees. Yes, for the sake 
of a few dollars they were willing to sacrifice human life. 
This man is only one of a thousand that are killed annually on 
the altar of greed. He is worse than dead. Disabled, crip- 
pled, without arms." 

(Brand) — "Well, this may do for a radical speech but 
not as evidence in a court. It has been clearly proved that 
the man was drunk the night before the accident and still had 
the effects of it at his work at the time when he was hurt." 

(Martin) — "There you are again. Whenever there is a 
crime committed, or whenever there is some dirty work done 
against the poor man, there you will always find people trying 
to cover it up by blaming it to liquor. Mr. Brand, something 
is the matter here; you have never talked that way before." 

(Martin Walks around the room nervously, and suddenly 
stops at the table where Brand had been sitting, and discovers 
the letier from the Foster Lumber mills. Brand Watches him 
take up the letter.) 

(Brand) — (To himself) "My God, that letter." 



13 

(Martin)— (Very loud) " Brand, is it possible that you 
too have fallen so far below justice that you are willing to 
sell yourself and become a slave to dollars. Is it possible 
that money can buy your body and soul. I see you are acting 
as attorney for the lumber company and for this employee at 
the same time. Now I see why you will return the money I 
have put up." 

(Brand, realizing the situation} — "Well, after all, we 
are all in the game for money and must play the game accord- 
ing to its rules." 

(Martin) — "Yes, the game, that's what they all say. 
Crimes are committed, human lives sacrificed, children starved, 
and all is blamed on to the game. It's about time we changed 
this kind of a game." 

(Enters servant) — "There is an Italian with one arm at 
the door, and wishes to see Mr. Brand." 

(Brand) — "Tell him I am not at home." 

(Martin) — "That must be Tony. Brand let this man in 
and tell his own story to these people." 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "Yes, I would like to see this man." 

(Brand) — "All right, let him in." 

(Enters Tony) — "How do you do, sir." 

(Bevarde doesnt answer, Brand mutters an answer, Martin 
Walks over and shakes hands with him, and Catharine asks him 
to sit down.) 

(Martin) — "Tony, what did you come here for?" 

(Tony) — "Mr. Brand he no see me for three days. I no 
know what's the matter, so I come to see him." 

(Martin, looking sore at Brand) — "Tony, will you tell 
these people how you got hurt." 

(Tony) — "I will, Mr. Martin. (Takes long breath.) 
You remember six months ago, when the strike broke out in 
the Foster Lumber Mills, we insisted that the company install 
safety appliances like they have in some of the other mills, and 
we demanded one dollar and seventy-five cents per day instead 
of one dollar and fifty cents. Mr. Foster refused to grant 
either. 

"To make things short, we lost the strike and went back to 



14 

work in the saw mill. One day we had a special job; we were 
rusbed. The foreman was standing beside me, watching me 
work and rushing me, when suddenly my sleeve got caught and 
my hand was pulled into the rip saw, and I just had time 
enough to call my Maria when the teeth of the terrible saw 
began to cut into my hand. I fell over the machine and could 
see the blood of my body dripping all over the floor. (Draws 
deep breath.) I didn't feel anything more until some days 
later I woke up at the hospital and my arm he was gone." 

(Every one is silent) 

(Martin) — "Well, Mr. Brand, you will not get out of this 
so easily. (Taking his hat and walking toward the door.) 
"I am going to expose you. The newspapers shall have the 
whole truth before morning." 

(Brand, in agony) — "No, you will not do that." 

(Martin)— "Yes, I will." 

(Brand, running towards the door and blocking his pas- 
sage) — "You shall not leave this room until you give me that 
letter. You will ruin me." 

(Martin) — "Ruin you? Did you for a moment consider 
how you were going to ruin an entire family. Of course, to 
you they don't amount to anything. Because they are only 
poor working people. But I want to tell you they are human 
beings the same as you are. They must live, breathe and eat 
the same as you do. Yes, and they are a darned sight more 
useful than you are. Well, I shall go now and we will see 
who is the strongest. (Walks toward the door and attempts 
to pass him. Catharine running between them.) 

(Catharine) — "Martin, please don't." 

(Martin) — "Catharine, please let me go. I must; it is my 
duty to expose the whole affair." 

(Catharine) — "Please, Martin, won't you do something for 
my sake." 

(Martin stops to think for a time.) 

(Martin) — "Catharine, take a pen and ink and write what 
I tell you." 

(Letter) — To the Foster Lumber Mills; I wish to inform 



15 

you that I am going to fight in behalf of Derano to the finish. 
"Now, my dear Mr. Brand, come here and sign this.** 

(Brand) — "No, no; I can't, I can't." 

(Martin) — "You can't. You ought to be exposed yourself 
and finish you as a lawyer for all time to come. But I am 
doing this for the sake of Catharine, and not for you. Come 
here and sign this." 

(Brand crawls over and signs the letter.) 

(Martin) — "Now, Tony, you come with me. There are but 
few friends here." 

(Exit.) 

(Brand) — "Catharine, this is all your fault. If it were 
not for you this Martin would not be hanging around here, 
butting into my business. Look here, I will have no more of 
this. (Stands up and Walks over to Catharine and in a vefp 
exicted manner says) "You can have your choice, stay here 
with us and live happily and be the heir of my property, marry 
a respectable business man like George, or you can go and live 
with this anarchist Martin and I will disinherit you. Not a 
penny, not a penny." 

(Catharine) — "Father!" 

(Brand) — "That's my last word, you can make up your 
mind." 

(Catharine) — "But I love Martin." 

(Brand) — "You love him. Do you realize what would 
become of you if you married him, a poor artist He couldn't 
even make a decent living. (He turns towards the door.) 
Remember what I said. You must decide right now. I will 
be back in a few minutes." 

(Brand exit.) 

(Catharine) — "My God, what shall I do. I will ring up 
Martin." 

(Goes to the phone and rings up.) 

(Catharine) — "Hello, Martin. Father is going to drive me 
out of the house unless I marry Mr. Harte. What shall I do? 
(Short pause) "No, no, Martin, I can't, I can't. I won't. 
I hate him, I love you. No, I won't, I won't. (She ap- 
pears to he angry, stamps her foot on floor, drops the receiver 



16 

and starts crying. To herself) He doesn't want me to sac- 
rifice my fortune for him. He says for me to marry Mr. 
Harte. But I won't. I will leave and go and make my own 
living. (Stops to think for a while.) But what can I do. 
I have never done any work in my life, I wouldn't know how 
to start. (A sudden thought strides her.) I know what I 
will do, I will go on the stage. I have a good voice and was 
offered a part once in an opera, but father wouldn't let me 
take it. I will go and pack up right away." 

(Enters Servant) — "Mr. Harte is here." 

(Catharine) — "I can't see him now." 

(Servant) — "But he insists; he says he has something very 
important to speak to you about." 

(Catharine) — "Well, let him in." 

(Enters Mr, Harte) — "Good evening, Catharine." 

(Catharine) — "Ob, it is you." 

(Harte, to himself) — "Pretty cold reception. (To Catha- 
rine) What are you so excited about." 

(Catharine) — "Oh, nothing, only a little bad news." 

(Mr, Harte) — "Look here, Catharine, why are you always 
so cool to me." 

(No answer.) 

(Mr. Harte) — "Oh, I guess it is that Artist Martin." 

(No answer again.) 

(Mr. Harte) — "Yes, you had rather marry a pauper than 
than a business man worth a half million. Come now, 
Catharine, why not get together and understand each other, 
I will make you happy. You can have all your heart desires 
— automobiles, diamonds, jewelry and fine dresses." 

(Catharine) — "I don't want any of your riches, your auto- 
mobiles, because — " 

(Mr. Harte) — "Yes, because this pauper Martin has bam- 
boozled you. You will be sorry when you have married this 
anarchist, this good for nothing." 

(Catharine) — "Mr. Harte, you are in my house." 

(Enters Brand) — "No, you are not. (He rings for serv- 
ant Servant enters. Brand, to servant) Go, pack up Catha- 
rine's things." 



17 

(Catharine thinks-) 

(Exit servant) 

(Brand) — "Here is your last chance. You can decide 
before she comes back/* 

(Mr- Harte) — 'What is the matter, Mr. Brand? What 
are you going to do?" 

(Brand) — "If she insists on marrying this pauper she is no 
longer my daughter. I will not have such a tramp for a son- 
in-law." 

(Mr, Harte, to Catharine) — "Please stay and don't leave 
a happy home. What are you going to do. God knows what 
may become of you. You have never worked in your life." 

(Enters servant with bag.) 

(Catharine, taking bag from the servant) — "I am going to 
earn my own living, like other girls do. They are human and 
they can; I will too. (Walks towards the door and then turns 
towards her father and speaks to him) Father, you don't 
understand. If mother had lived she would understand, be- 
cause a woman knows better what love is. She holds it more 
sacred than men do. Well, goodby, father, some day you 
will forgive me." 

(No answer.) 

(She walks slowly toward the door and passes out) 

(Harte stretches out his arms towards her.) 

CURTAIN. 
End of Act I. 



18 



Act II. 

SCENE: Poorly furnished room, three chairs, small table 
and a bed. 

(Enters landlady, an Irish "Woman, followed by Mrs. J3ev- 
arde and Mr. Harte.) 

(Landlady) — "This is rer room. Take seats, she just went 
across the street to buy some food. She will be back soon. 
Poor girl, she is worried to death because she couldn't find 
any work. She hasn't had more than one meal a day for the 
last week." 

(Mr. Harte) — "How long has she been living here." 

(Landlady) — "About three months. She has been work- 
ing in the chorus at the Gaiety Theatre, but the company went 
broke and she lost some of her salary. Poor kid. I think 
she would make good, for she has a good voice; if she could 
only get a chance at some of these what you call grand operas." 

(She hears a noise) — "Excuse me, but my soup is boiling 
over." 

(She hurries out.) 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "To think that a daughter of Walter 
Brand should come to this." 

(Harte) — "It is really sad. By the way, what has be- 
come of the dreamer, Martin." 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "There are various rumors about him. 
The last I heard of him was that he was seen hoboing around 
the country. They say ever since the day Catharine left he 
neglected his art. He never even showed up in town any 
longer. It looks as though he has taken things to heart and 
decided to become a hobo." 

(Harte) — "Oh, well, that would have been the end of him 
any way, and should he have married Catharine he would have 
dragged her down into the slums with him. You know, Mrs. 
Bevarde, that I told father of my love for Catharine and he 
is coming here to persuade her to come back and live with us." 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "That's good. I believe she has suffered 
enough now and that she has about made up her mind to come 
home." 



19 

(Harte) — "Hush, I think she is coming.'' 

(Enters Catharine.) 

(Catharine) — "My, what unexpected visitors (talking 
coolly). Well, how are you, aunty. It has been quite a long 
time since I have seen you." 

(Mrs. BeVarde) — "We have come here to see if we can't 
get you to leave this life of misery and come back home/' 

(Catharine) — "Well, aunty, I will tell you, I have learned 
a good deal since I left home. I found it is not so easy to get 
along without a rich father, but I have made lots of friends; 
besides there are thousands of working girls living from hand 
to mouth and I am no better than they." 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "But just consider for a moment what 
may become of you, Catharine." 

(Catharine) — "Yes, I have learned that it is a hard thing 
for a girl to lead a straight life in this unfair world. But listen, 
I now take this life as part of one's experience. What's the 
difference. After all, we can live in silks and we can live in 
rags. I found that if one lives in luxury and palatial homes, 
then thousands of others must live in poverty and rags. You 
are not aware of this fact, but I am." 

(Harte) — "But you admit it is nicer to eat good things and 
ride around in automobiles than it is to live in rags." 

(Catharine) — "Yes, it is, I admit, but if you understood 
how these riches come from the sweat and blood of the poor 
working girls you w r ould not enjoy them so much. That is, if 
there were more human in you than brute." 

(Harte) — "You don't mean to insinuate " 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "Now, don't start an argument. This 
is not what we came here for. Catharine, let us reason. Can't 
you see there is no end to this misery. Why not come home. 
You can not help these people. The poor have always been 
and they will always be with us. You can do more good by 
coming home and helping the charitable institutions, for instance, 
like Father Don is doing." 

(Catharine) — "Father Don, why aunty, you don't know 
him now. Father Don has changed entirely since he left. He 
has left the church and is now preaching a new gospel, a gospel 



20 

for the kingdom of God on earth. He has been coming up 
here every day for the last few months, and we have studied 
together a new religion. He has become very poor and is 
spending a lot of his time on me. He has searched the world 
to find what has become of Martin Lightstone." 

(Harte) — "What's the use, there are no hopes of finding 
him. He has left this country altogether." 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "Yes, a man like him doesn't think of 
settling down and living a steady life. He is always on the go." 

(The bell rings.) 

(Harte) — "That must be father." 

(Enters Landlady) — "A gentleman by the name of Mr. 
Harte wants to come in." 

(Harte) — "That is father; let him in." 

(Enters Harte, Sr., Well dressed.) 

(Mr. Harte, Sr.) — "My, what foul air in here." 

(Harte, Jr.) — "Father, this is Miss Brand, that I was 
speaking to you about." 

(Harte, Sr., sitting dorvn) — "What's the matter, my girl? 
Let's sit down and talk seriously. (To Harte, Jr., and Mrs. 
Bevarde) Will you please leave us for a time, so I can talk 
to her privately, and when you come back I can assure you 
she will go with us." 

(Exit Harte and Bevarde.) 

(Harte, Sr., takes chair, moving it near Catharine, and sits 
down.) 

(Harte, Sr.) — "Now, my dear, you know that George is 
my only son. He is the heir to all my millions. He told me 
that he loves you and wants to marry you. Of course, you 
know that he can get any girl of high standing in society, but 
I believe in letting him have his own way. Now, I came here 
to persuade you to marry him." 

(Catharine) — "Impossible." 

(Harte, Sr.)— "Impossible? Why?" 

(Catharine) — "Because I do not love him. I love some 
one else." 

(Harte, Sr.)— "Who?" 

(Catharine) — "Martin Lightstone." 



21 

(Matte, £r.) — "Oh, that dreamer. There is no longer any 
hope f:r your marrying him." 

(Catharine) — -"What do you mean?" 

(Harte, Sr.) — "I mean that Martin Lightstone will hang 
in a few days." 

(Catharine) — "Hang, what is the matter with you, Mr. 
Harte?" 

(Mr. Harte, Sr.) — "I mean what I say." 

(Catharine gets excited, runs over, grabs Harte, Sr. 9 by 
coat lapels and starts shading him) — "Are you joking? Ex- 
plain, please explain. Is it true?" 

(Harte, Sr.) — "Yes, it is true. Martin Lightstone, under 
another name became the leader of a violent gang of strikers 
in one of my factories, and in a recent riot between the militia 
and the strikers twelve officers were killed, and he is now held 
under crarge of inciting the strikers to murder, and I will see 
that he hangs." 

(She faints.) 

(Landlady comes running in, picks up Catharine and ad- 
dresses Harte, Sr ) — "What have you done to her. What 
have you come here for — to kill the girl? I never did like 
these snobs any way." 

(Enter Mrs, Bevarde and Harte) — "What's the matter 
Fere? What's the matter?" 

(Harte, Sr.) — 4 '0h, nothing. I just told her some bad 
news about Martin and she fainted." 

(They pick Catharine up and lay her on the bed and bathe 
her head. Catharine comes to. She looks around and starts 
crying again. They let her cry for about [too minutes while 
the three gather in the corner and discuss something in a low 
voice. After a while Harte, Sr '-, speaks ) 

"Now, my dear, you see there is no use. Martin will have 
to hang, and you will be left alone here. Why not come 
with us?" 

(Catharine) — "Can't you save him? Can't you save him? 
Surely you can. You are a rich man. You can make your 
millions work." 

(Harte, Sr.) — "Of course I can, but I won't. He is gu'.hy 



22 

and he shall die. He committed the crime which is punish- 
able only by death. He is a traitor to this government." 

(Catharine sobs,) 

(Mr. Harte, Sr.) — "Catharine, I am going to do one thing 
for you. One word from me and Martin will go free. I 
will give that word and you can save his life provided you 
promise to marry George and come home and live with us." 

(Catharine) — "No, no, no. I can't, I won't." 

(Harte, Sr.) — "All right, then, that is settled. Martin 
will die and you had the power to save his life, if you wished. 
(Turns to the others) There is no use, let's go." 

(They all get up to "Walk out.) 

(Catharine) — "No, no, no, please don't go yet. Give me 
a little time to consider." 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "There is nothing to consider, dearie: 
there is only one way out of the situation. That is for you to 
come with us. Now come, go and pack your stuff up and 
let's go." 

(Catharine suddenly appears to have decided something, 
stands up, wipes her tears and says) — "I will go. I am going 
to sell myself, but for a good price. I shall sell myself to a 
man I hate for the life of the man I love." 

(She starts packing her grips, and they are all about ready 
to go, when they suddenly hear a noise at the door. The door 
opens without knocking and Father Don and Martin Lightstone 
come in. Catharine runs over to Martin with a scream of joy. 
They embrace each other.) 

(Catharine) — "I am so glad you are a free man, I thought 
you were innocent." 

(Martin) — "Innocent of what?" 

(Catharine) — "Weren't you sentenced to be hanged?" 

(Martin) — "Of course not." 

(Catharine) — "That man over there told me that you were 
to be hanged in a few days (pointing to Harte, Sr.) 

(Martin, looking at Harte, Sr.; recognizes him as the presi- 
dent of the Foster Lumber Mills. He leaves Catharine alone, 
grows more furious and speaks to Harte, Sr.) 

"So it is you? — uh. (Runs over to him, grabs him by his 



23 

ihfoat and starts choking him.) I have been looking for you 
for the last three months, and you knew it, and you were over 
in Europe/* 

(Harte, Sr.) — "What's the matter? Why are you so 
bitter against me?" 

(Martin) — "Maybe you don't know me, but I know you, 
Maybe you don't know that fifteen years ago my father was a 
victim of your greedy, money making schemes. Yes, you 
don't know that the poor laborer who was killed in one of your 
mills fifteen years ago was my father, and even then I swore 
revenge. Not satisfied with killing him, you have made me 
a pauper, a tramp. You have bought out the attorney that was 
defending a poor Italian whom I have loaned all I had. You 
have ruined him and he now lies in a pauper's grave, and now 
you come here and try to destroy the only thing that money 
cannot buy, and you and all of your kind with all of your 
millions cannot control, that is, this woman's love and happi- 
ness. I shall reckon with you right now. You shall pay in 
blood of your body for the blood of the many hundreds of men, 
women and children that you have killed and disabled in your 
factories. (He rushes io him, when the three others hold him 
back. He struggles for a while.) 

(Mr. Harte, Jr., in alow tone) — "We will make him suffer 
for this. Let us go now." 

(They all leave the room except Martin and Catharine.) 

(Catharine calms Martin.) 

(Catharine) — "I am so glad you have come back, I never 
would have believed that of father. I wonder what tempted 
him to do this thing." 

(Martin) — "I know what did it. It is nothing unusual; it 
happens every day in our civilized world. It is that ever cring- 
ing, craving lust on the part of the rich for more money. Money 
they don't need. It is the mad hunt for money that turns 
human beings into heartless beasts. No, Catharine, after all 
it is not all his own fault. It is the game, and he is trying to 
play as he sees it. It is also our fault, the people's fault, for 
allowing this kind of a game to continue. This is the great 
problem for us yet to solve. 

End of Act II. 



24 



ACT III. 

Studio. Very artistically furnished. Martin Lightstone 
sitting beside a painting half finished on an easel. He holds 
the brush and palate in his hand and is whistling some song. 
He appears to be interested in his painting when the door 
opens and Catharine enters. She lightly runs over to Martin, 
touches him on the shoulder and he turns around, smiling. 



(Martin, smiling) — "Hello, Catharine. Back already?" 

(Catharine) — "Yes, Martin; done some shopping." 

(Martin) — "I suppose you bought some more ties and cuff 
links for me?" 

(Catharine) — "No, no, no!" 

(Martin)— "What then?" 

(Catharine) — "Oh, I bought some goods; I'm going to 
do some sewing*" 

(Martin) — "Sewing? What are you going to sew now?" 

(Catharine) — "Oh, just some sewing," 

(Martin) — "Pray tell me, what are you going to sew?" 

(Catharine does not answer.) 

(Martin) — "Come now, what are you going to sew?" 

(Catharine, blushing) — "None of your business." 

(Martin) — "Now, Catharine, this is the first time you have 
spoken that way to me since we were married." 

(Catharine) — "Oh, yes, that reminds me, Martin, Monday 
will be our first wedding anniversary." 

(Martin)- — "Yes, that is certainly a memorable day. I 
guess we were married under more unusual circumstances than 
any other two persons in the world." 

(Catharine) — "Yes, how well I remember those days! I 
shall never forget them, and I believe if it was not for Father 
Don, we never would have been married." 

(Martin) — "^nd how he has changed since!" 

(Catharine) — "He seems to be very down-hearted; I won- 
der what's the matter." 

(Martin) — "I know what's the matter; you see Father Don 
has spent many years of his life in fighting the liquor traffic, 
and now, after he has succeeded in voting this State dry, look 



25 

at the consequences! Business depressions, more unemployed, 
more poverty, and the worst of it all, there are more drunks 
' than ever before. He found out that he has wasted his time 
and that Prohibition really does not prohibit. Can you blame 
him for being down-hearted?" 

(Catharine) — "Isn't it too bad that people can not refrain 
from poisonous liquors ?" 

(Martin, looking surprised) — "Catharine, since when have 
you become a Prohibitionist?" 

(Catharine) — "Isn't it true; does not liquor contain poi- 
son.-* 

(Martin) — "Well, to be frank with you, it does contain poi- 
son to a certain degree, but the question arises: is that poison 
harmful to your body? As a matter of fact, beer is more 
nourishing than the average food stuff that you eat, and the 
so-called poison is less harmful to your physical organism than 
such frequently used foods as coffee, tea, pepper, ginger, and 
even common table salt. Why don't they try to pass a law 
prohibiting the use of these?" 

(Catharine) — "You win." 

(Door bell rings.) 

(Catharine) — "Who can that be?" 

(Martin) — "I guess it is Father Don." 

(Catharine runs out and returns in a few moments, hand-in- 
hand with Father Don.) 

(Catharine) — "You are right; here he is." 

(Martin) — "Good afternoon, Father Don." 

(Father Don) — "How many times have I told you not to 
call me * Father'; my name is now 'Mr. Don.' 

(Martin) — "So? All right, Father Don." 

(Father Don)— "What?" 

(Martin) — "Oh, I mean 'Mr.' Don. Why do you 
object to being called 'Father?' 

(Father Don) — "Because I believe in the brotherhood of 
man; since we are all brothers, how can I be your father?" 

(They laugh.) 

(Martin) — "Well, now that you have got the saloons closed, 
what are you going to close next?" 

(Father Don) — "Why do you ask this question?" 



26 

(Martin) — "Is it not perfectly natural for people of such 
grand moral caliber as our Prohibition friends are, to try to 
close dance halls, pool rooms and even theatres. Now really, 
I think you ought to try to close the theatres to give the people 
a chance to go to church." 

(Father Don) — "Why be so sarcastic? There was a time 
when I really was in favor of all these things, but you know 
I have changed." 

(Martin) — "You have! Now, Father Don, answer me; 
what would you do with a man that can not control himself 
and drinks to excess?" 

(Father Don) — "There is one thing I am now convinced of; 
prohibition laws will not help him any. His place is in a hos- 
pital or an asylum. He will have to have his head fixed. The 
person who can not control himself in regard to liquor, can not 
control himself regarding any other vice. As far as I am con- 
cerned, I am through with spending my time and energy with 
effects. From now on I shall deal with causes." 

(Martin) — "I see by the papers this morning that they are 
beginning to discover the famous 'Blind Pigs.' ' 

(Father Don) — "Yes, I must say, your prophecy came 
true." 

(Martin) — "And -the one benefit the State might derive is 
in extracting money from them in the form of fines. I hope 
they realize that they can not close them up, for if they close one 
in one part of the town, three new ones will spring up in another 
part. This has been true in other states where they have pro- 
hibition." 

(Father Don) — "Well, after all, by our mistakes we learn." 

(Martin) — "This mistake could have been easily avoided 
if the campaign committee of the California Dry Federation 
were not composed of people who already were intoxicated 
with religion, and by having these kind of jags, they could not 
think clearly and see the consequences of their actions. Tell 
me, what is the difference between a person becoming intoxicated 
on relision, whether that religion be Baptist, Salvation Army, 
or Holy Rollers, and the person who gets intoxicated on 
liquor?" 

(Father Don) — "Well, what is it?" 



27 

(Martin) — "The difference is this; a person having a liquor 
jag will recover from its effects in a few hours, well, probably 
a day, but a person with a religious jag may never get over the 
effects. For myself, if I were to chocse between the two, give 
me the beer." 

(Father Don) — "But you do not drink at all." 

(Martin) — "I knew it, but I am supposed to be a free- 
born American citizen, and should I desire it, why shourd I be 
prevented?" 

(Father Don) — "Perhaps it is better for your health." 

(Martin) — "That is my business. Many people believe in 
being vegetarians and refrain from eating meats, which accord- 
ing to good authority is bad for the health. You would think 
it absurd for me to advocate the passage of a law that would 
compel these people to eat meat on the grounds that they were 
starving themselves to death. Now, I also believe that a black 
suit would look better on you than the gray suit you have on. 
Let us pass a law to compel you to wear black suits instead of 
the color you would prefer. In other words, it is merely a 
proposal by some people to destroy the liberty of others, to tell 
them what to wear, what to eat and what to drink." 

(Bell rings, Catharine opens the door and Mrs. Bevarde 
enters. She is dressed somewhat simpler this time.) 

(Martin) — "Why, how do you do, Mrs. Bevarde!" 
(They shake hands) "How are you getting along?" 

(Catharine) — "Yes, auntie, tell us how you spend your time 
now." 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "I am very busy now with political work; 
I have been elected president of the Women's Civic Club." 

(Martin) — "Yes, this is the club which has been so active 
in the last Prohibition campaign and has been a great factor in 
making the State of California dry." 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "Yes, the women of this State should be 
proud of the good they have accomplished." 

(Martin) — "Yes, oh, yes, proud of their ignorance." 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "Mr. Lightstone! Really, you are not 
a drinking man, and I can not see why you should be so much 
opposed to Prohibition." 

(Martin) — "You women, more than anybody else should 



28 

be concerned with matters that affect your home, your children, 
and your family. If you claim to be Christians, you ought to 
help better the conditions of the poor, give them a little more 
food to eat, a better place to sleep, and better living conditions. 
Instead of that, you are wasting your time in dealing with a 
problem you don't know anything about. There are over 
500,000 people killed and maimed annually on all railroads, 
shops, mills, mines and factories, because of the lack of safety 
appliances and the greed of their employers, and do you women 
shed any tears over this? Thousands of people die an early 
death because of one great curse to the human race, and that 
curse is not liquor; it is tuberculosis. They die because of the 
lack of pure food, pure air, and the opportunity to live right. 
Do you women shed any tears over this? No! No! You are 
too busy shouting * 'Liquor, liquor," and then when you win 
one campaign you spend the balance of your time seeing that it 
doesn't go wet again, and when it is wet, you spend your time 
trying to make it dry, forgetting your home, your babes and 
your families. I can see some reason for you and your kind, 
who have been brought up amongst the rich, to take up this 
fight merely as pastime. Playing whist is not so much in style 
now; politics has become the style for society in California, but 
the vast majority of women who are living from hand to mouth 
because their husbands do not get a decent living wage, that 
they should take a hand in this fight is a monument to an ignorant 
society." 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "Martin Lightstone! You are insulting 
the women of California." 

(Martin) — "If by telling the truth I am insulting anybody, 
then they will remain insulted." 

(Catharine) — "Now don't start any arguments!" 

(Father Don) — "We won't settle matters here, and I should 
advise Mrs. Bevarde to read some books and inform herself 
on the subject, as I have done; then she will have the ques- 
tion settled in her own mind." 

(Catharine) — "When I come to think of it, do you know 
this reminds me of the time we were all together in my father's 
house, discussing Prohibition. At that time Father Don ar- 
gued with Martin, and then do you remember what happened?" 



29 

(Father Don) — "There is no use of recalling these sad in- 
cidents. (Addressing Mrs. Bevarde.) What has ever be- 
come of this fellow, George Hart, whom Catharine was so 
much in love with?" (Smiling.) 

(Mrs. Bevarde) — "Oh, he married shortly after Catha- 
rine was married and is now divorced again." 

(Martin) — "There certainly was a long successive string of 
sad events those days." 

(Catharine) — "What has ever become of that Italian 
family?" 

(Martin) — "I left them here in despair; poor Tony died; 
I lost my money, and went ragged for about three months, 
roaming around the country, and when I came back I heard 
that Mr. Foster very kindly gave her the large sum of $25.00 
for her husband's life." 

(Father Don) — "Twenty-five dollars! " 

(Martin) — "And if you left it to a judge and jury to de- 
cide, his life would not have been worth anything. Nowadays 
it is millions that count, and not human life." 

(Catharine) — "This is a queer world!" 

(Martin) — "It is not queer to some people. It is easily un- 
derstood. We only need a thinking people who know their 
interests and we will remedy these conditions. We only need 
people who are not lured away in fighting super-structures. 
When the time comes that the human race is educated to devote 
their lives in solving real problems, problems that concern every 
man, woman and child living under the sun; when we will spend 
our energy in fighting greed and make way for a time when 
there will be real opportunity for all equality and human 
brotherhood, then, and then only, will this world cease to be a 
queer world." 

End of Act III. Curtain. 



LIBRARY ur 




017 199 391 A 



